5 Questions With.....GOLFSPY_X

[GolfSpy Barbajo]

We'd like to introduce you to a new feature on the MyGolfSpy Forum.  We call it...

 

5 Questions With....

 

Every week we'll be putting someone in the golf industry on the "hot seat," and hitting them with 5 questions.  We hope it will be interesting, provocative, fun and enlightening.   

 

And since this is MyGolfSpy, we figured we'd start with, well, the GolfSpies.  Who are these mysterious people with the Spy names?  What drives them to do that voodoo that they do? And we figured what better place to start than at the top...

 

 

 

5 Questions: What inspired you to start MyGolfSpy? 
 

GolfSpy X: I started MyGolfSpy for one reason: the consumer.

I did a focus group study after selling my last golf company and it was obvious, golfers wanted a place they could trust, without bias from large advertising influence. A place they knew would be real, authentic, and genuine. I spent a year-and-a- half researching what I could do to provide them what they wanted and started MyGolfSpy shortly after.  What golfers wanted was what I was put on this planet to do.  
 

I actually don't consider myself to be in the golf business at all, I consider myself in the business of giving a damn.  MyGolfSpy is truly an expression of me and what I believe in. Integrity is something I feel is sorely lacking in the world of media these days.   I'm here to change that in golf.

 

5 Questions: What did you hope to accomplish?
 

GolfSpy X: I'm not here just to make a difference. I am here to completely revolutionize the way consumers go about purchasing golf equipment in the future. Flip the entire industry on its head. 
 

The golf industry and the MGS readers have yet to see the master plan for MGS.  I just completed Phase 1 of MGS which was basically "proof of concept".  Could we go against the norm and not only survive but thrive without taking ad dollars from those that support the media in this industry?  We have reached that goal and now we are moving on to Phase 2 which I have been waiting 15 years for the opportunity to show consumers.
 

The only way you change things is by going against the grain and standing up for what's right - giving up things in the short term for what's better in the long.  Taking the road less traveled. I'm not interested in making friends with PR people in this industry.  I'm interested in making lasting change for golfers, the kind of change golf club manufacturers are scared of. 

 

5 Questions: You've been using the hashtag #PowerToThePlayer.  What does that mean and why do you think it's important?
 

GolfSpy X: The individual player (you) is the most important thing in golf.  Period.  This message is counter to how the industry behaves and treats its audience.  Our role as the people's advocate is to put the power back in the players' hands.  We think it's time you called the shots.  It's time to raise the level of play together.  That is #PowerToThePlayer and it's the foundation of how we plan to empower golfers' games.

 

5 Questions: You've been steadfast in your refusal to accept advertising dollars from the big OEM's.  Why do you refuse?  What message does that send to your readers? 
 

GolfSpy X: Advertising, at its core is meant to seduce, influence and manipulate your brain. If I'm going to provide the truth to consumers, that becomes more difficult by accepting money of the most powerful of those that do the advertising.  Marketing has become more important than the performance of the actual product being marketed.  I'm here to try and change that. Things should be based on truth not hype...performance not marketing
.

5 Questions: So you go by GolfSpy X. Who are you really?
 

GolfSpy X: MyGolfSpy is me and I am MyGolfSpy. 
 

So there you have it, readers, 5 Questions With….GolfSpy X, the head man at MyGolfSpy.
 

I'm sure you have questions for X, please post them here and he'll be pleased to share his thoughts with you, if he's not on a secret mission!

[Aotearoa_Brad]

This is cool! Always nice to get an insight into what's behind the curtain! I have a couple of questions X:

1. I'm intrigued - I had no idea you'd owned a golf company prior... can you tell us what it was or what the company made/did?
2. There's a few major golf blogs/forums out there - is there any camaraderie between them? What's the atmosphere like when all the different blogs are at the same launch event etc? 

Thanks

 

Brad 

[Kenny B]

I love this "5 Questions with..." idea.  I think it will provide your readers with insights into the business that we may otherwise not see.  

 

I have 2 questions for X:

1. The focus has always been on golf equipment, and I am looking forward to your Phase 2.   Are there plans to expand beyond equipment?  Specifically, it seems that MGS is in a position to influence golf operations at courses to improve the golfing experience for everyone; deals, course layouts, club fittings, etc.
2. When will we get a better MyGolfSpy interface for iOS devices?

Thanks,

Kenny B

[hckymeyer]

Great questions Brad and I really like the topic John.

 

My follow up.  When can hear more details about Phase 2?  Phase 1 has been pretty awesome so far and the thought that there's a lot more coming is making me giddy!

[silver & black]

One word describes what GolfSpy X had to say: F**KIN AWESOME! Ok..... maybe it was two words.

[wbealsd]

One word describes what GolfSpy X had to say: F**KIN AWESOME! Ok..... maybe it was two words.

If you say it real fast, it can sound like one word

[SPY ZINGER]

X is like this behind the scenes as well. I remember my first media trip:

 

"Don't let them brainwash you, Zinger."

[Blade]

[*]There's a few major golf blogs/forums out there - is there any camaraderie between them? What's the atmosphere like when all the different blogs are at the same launch event etc?

Thanks

 

Brad

I know your question is for X, but I saw a little of it at Cobra's event last year myself. A group from one site kept to themselves pretty much and didn't hang out with us. But I met Zak Kozuchowski, the managing editor from WRX. Great guy to hang out with. Not all full of himself or looking to prove something. Just hanging out with us and the Cobra staff. My impression was there are some that avoid each other and others that look forward to meeting up at the next event.

[GolfSpy_X]

1. In the late 90's I started one of the first internet online pro shops.  Not sure if you remember ChipShot.com (this was not mine), but for those that do it will take you back in time to what was going on then.

 

I still remember the first time I told a large OEM CEO what my plan was...his response, "OK, so tell me this, when someone buys something from the computer...how are they going to hand you the money through the screen."  This is an exact quote.  Lot has changed since then.

 

I also was a freelance golf club designer during this time.  I started designing for component companies when I was in my early 20's to get as much experience as possible in the quickest manner available.  Since component companies came out with tens and sometimes hundreds of designs a year back then it was the quickest way for me to get my feet wet.  Biggest down side to this form of experience was that since they pumped out so many designs they cut corners at every corner possible.  Was tough to do something innovative in that industry.  

 

2. Camaraderie between major blog/forums.  Hmmm, originally I would call it a hatred if I am being completely honest.  None of us seemed to like each other much in the beginning.  Now I would say we are cordial at best.  That being said, Tony (GolfSpy T) and a few of the others that have been on events for MGS I think have had some positive camaraderie with other sites, but me not so much.

 

Why?  My take, they didn't like me.  I was different.  I was competition.  I was blunt, to the point and came from a place of complete honesty.  That can be abrasive to some.  I was also growing fairly fast in terms of traffic.  Honestly, like I said I am not here to make friends with the PR people in this industry and I consider all of blog/forum owners and employees to be PR people for the golf brands at the end of the day.  

 

 

This is cool! Always nice to get an insight into what's behind the curtain! I have a couple of questions X:

1. I'm intrigued - I had no idea you'd owned a golf company prior... can you tell us what it was or what the company made/did?
2. There's a few major golf blogs/forums out there - is there any camaraderie between them? What's the atmosphere like when all the different blogs are at the same launch event etc? 

Thanks

 

Brad 

[GolfSpy_X]

1. I guess the best way to put it is: Yes, there are plans to move beyond equipment.  But not until we get the equipment part exactly right.  Then and only then do I feel it will do justice to what you deserve.  By not taking the ad dollars it has lengthened the amount of time to get the equipment side buttoned up.  But when we do I think you guys are going to see the world of golf equipment in a whole new way.  

 

2.  I have actually been working day and night on this for the past 6 months or so.  We had to wait until couple technologies caught up to what we had planned but now they have.  In 2015 you will see a much different site and a much different IOS experience.  I am working with some incredibly talented people on the plan but if done right, things unfortunately take longer than I wished to come to fruition.  The site is a mess right now and we are aware and I do apologize.  We know this is an issue and unfortunately with the resources we have we have to prioritize and right now the most important thing is the content and the future experience for you guys.

 

 

I love this "5 Questions with..." idea.  I think it will provide your readers with insights into the business that we may otherwise not see.  

 

I have 2 questions for X:

1. The focus has always been on golf equipment, and I am looking forward to your Phase 2.   Are there plans to expand beyond equipment?  Specifically, it seems that MGS is in a position to influence golf operations at courses to improve the golfing experience for everyone; deals, course layouts, club fittings, etc.
2. When will we get a better MyGolfSpy interface for iOS devices?

Thanks,

Kenny B

[GolfSpy_X]

You will start to hear more about Phase 2 early 2015 and lots more in the months that follow.  I will give you a hint of one thing I am working on it is code named: TRIANGLE.  All I can really say right now.  

 

 

Great questions Brad and I really like the topic John.

 

My follow up.  When can hear more details about Phase 2?  Phase 1 has been pretty awesome so far and the thought that there's a lot more coming is making me giddy!

[JBones]

I'm going to go ahead and say it......I love the 5 questions feature, this one and the ones to come.

 

I do have one question and I wouldn't be a true spy if I didn't ask the down and dirty question/s.....

 

I notice a lot of "shots" are taken at Callaway.  Where does this stem from?  Is it a love/hate relationship?

[GolfSpy_X]

I feel part of my job is to have my finger on the pulse regarding what is going on behind the scenes in the industry and share that information. It is something very early on in my career I was allowed to see and golfers would be shocked to know what really goes on.  I and some others call it "The Golf Mafia" and this is no embellishment, not even in the slightest.  There are threats, blackmail, on-going lawsuits and the loss of careers all for going against the made men.  No one else in this industry will do this because it would bite the hand that feeds them.  Yet another reason we do not accept ad dollars from the large OEM's.  

 

That being said, what you are feeling, reading and seeing from MGS regarding Callaway is an honest assessment of who I think they are and what they are doing.  And you've probably only heard about 10% of the all the stories.  

 

We were actually talking about this exact topic yesterday and one thing brought up was that the industry as whole both understands and accepts a certain level of bullshit and lying to go on in the industry.  But why you see myself and others having issues with the new Callaway is because their level of bullshit is above the allotted amount of understood and accepted bullshit.

 

My opinion, they are lying to you and everyone else about who they are, their products and their brand.  It's a facade.  MyGolfSpy is black and white.  Either your honest or your not.  I think they are full of s***.  And it starts near the top. 

 

End of the day, wouldn't matter if it was Wilson, Cobra, Cleveland, Taylormade or Callaway.  If what is being done by Callaway was being done by someone else I would do the same.  Not a lot of checks and balances in this industry.  I'm just trying to do my part.

 

People thought the same thing early on about me and Taylormade and then it was Cleveland and then it was Titleist.  I call out what I think is wrong no matter the logo on the bottom of a club.

 

 

I'm going to go ahead and say it......I love the 5 questions feature, this one and the ones to come.

 

I do have one question and I wouldn't be a true spy if I didn't ask the down and dirty question/s.....

 

I notice a lot of "shots" are taken at Callaway.  Where does this stem from?  Is it a love/hate relationship?

[JBones]

And that there is why I love this site.  Cut through all the bullshit and give us the info that we deserve.  Thanks, X.

[GolfSpy_X]

Anytime.

 

 

And that there is why I love this site.  Cut through all the bullshit and give us the info that we deserve.  Thanks, X.

[wbealsd]

This is a GREAT thread!

[BIG STU]

What year did you start this forum?

I don't know about WRX being cool with us. I do post on there quite a bit in the classic golf and golfers section under the same name I use here but I mentioned something about MGS on there and got a PM warning from one of their "Marshalls"

[revkev]

So x what you are saying is that the OEM industry is like the NCAA and it's member institutions - its okay to cheat (bullshit) just so long as you aren't cheating more than the others or you're an insider.  If you come from the outside and try to play with the big boys look out because then they will expose your cheating (a violation for a basketball coach calling a 12 year old little leaguer to tell her she did a nice job pitching the little league world series.)

 

Sorry - I couldn't resist.

 

X - Could you elaborate for us a bit on the bullsh....ing that is allowable - I guess we can do the TMag claim math and see what we sould all be driving it 385 by now or the Callaway claims and know that the test had to be 1985 tour grinds with balata balls vs. today's technology but what are some other examples and what's in the allowable range and what defines going over the line?